Another NFL week is in the books. The scriptwriters are on the horizon for yet another masterful season. There have been some amazing games and some real stinkers. Nonetheless, it’s football and every game has at least one player to watch for fantasy purposes. Good or bad, any game is watchable as long as you have a player starting on your fantasy team. As the season blossoms, there are some weeds to pull, and then some seeds to add to your garden. Picking the right batch makes all the difference in a championship run or watching the fantasy playoffs from the couch. Make sure you buy and sell the right players to get ready for the crunch time of fantasy football.
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Fantasy Football Week 3 Buy and Sell Targets
Players to Buy
Josh Jacobs (RB: Las Vegas Raiders)
Back-to-back disappointing weeks from Josh Jacobs scoring a combined 19 total points to start the season. Fortunately for Jacobs, he’s one of the best players on the team and will remain heavily involved. He’s got a firm grip on the running back touches and is even third in target share. The schedule opens up the next several games with some less-than-average run defenses, so Jacobs should get back to his 2022 form. Jacobs was likely a high fantasy draft pick and the owner could be frustrated with double duds. Trade for Josh Jacobs today.
AJ Brown (WR: Philadelphia Eagles)
Many fantasy football managers were just as frustrated as A.J. Brown last Thursday night. Only six targets in the game are simply not enough for one of the league’s best. The top three options for the Philadelphia Eagles’ passing attack all command a high target share and, barring an injury, that won’t change. The Eagles offense is among the top scoring teams in the league and the points will come plenty. Last season, Brown had three games under 10 fantasy points, so take advantage. This could be the last time A.J. Brown’s value is on the low side, try to swoop him up where you can.
Sam LaPorta (TE: Detroit Lions)
Normally rookie tight ends take time to develop and aren’t a factor in their rookie seasons, but Sam LaPorta has been a quick learner and has produced immediately. There are only two players on the team with double-digit receptions and over 100 yards receiving: Amon-Ra St. Brown and Sam LaPorta. It’s encouraging to see the young prospect involved so early in the season and his volume should only increase as the campaign continues. There isn’t much to be excited about at the tight end position, but the promising rookie is an inspiring talent. Try to obtain the rookie before his “break-out” game.
Some key Sam LaPorta usage numbers:
Week One
🔸Pass Block % – 15.6%
🔸WR Snap % – 32.8%Week Two
🔸Pass Block % – 8.8%
🔸WR Snap % – 53.7%We are moving in the right direction folks!
— Andrew Cooper (@CoopAFiasco) September 18, 2023
Bonus Buy – Alvin Kamara (RB: New Orleans Saints)
Alvin Kamara is suspended for one more week and then he’s going to explode onto the scene. Alvin Kamara has finished as a top-16 PPR fantasy running back each year of his career. He’s also averaged over 14 points per game each of those seasons too. Check on the Alvin Kamara owner and if they’re staring at a poor start and need players to help them out now, he could be had for cheap. Kamara is likely the cheapest RB1 right now and he’s worth sending out an offer or two. He should be one of the top trade targets to go after.
Players to Sell
Brian Robinson (RB: Washington Commanders)
The bruising runner has dominated the running back rush attempts at an 82% clip. Brian Robinson has handled 37 rushes whereas the next closest running back, Antonio Gibson, has five. The Washington Commanders have had two favorable game scripts to start the season for Robinson to just run away with the carries and rack up the yards. Coming off a two-touchdown performance, it’s the perfect time to sell. The next two showdowns might phase out the running game by playing from behind against Buffalo and Philadelphia. Unless Brian Robinson becomes an every-down back and handles the passing-down situations, he has limited upside as just a runner. Sell him now in fantasy football while his stock is still high, and maybe buy him back after this tough stretch of games.
Marquise Brown (WR: Arizona Cardinals)
Marquise Brown is coming off a 17.4 PPR fantasy point game in an embarrassing loss to the New York Giants. The Arizona Cardinals offense is simply just not that great and a touchdown saved Brown’s fantasy performance. Things aren’t going to get any easier over the next four games with tough matchups against Dallas, San Francisco, Cincinnati, and the Los Angeles Rams. Brown should be riding your bench during this stretch, so if you’re not going to play him, you might as well sell high to a WR-needy team and reap the benefits.
Tyler Higbee (TE: Los Angeles Rams)
One of the offseason’s favorite tight-end sleepers has logged 6 receptions for 61 yards on 10 targets through two weeks. Tyler Higbee is currently sitting at a lousy 11% target share and the Los Angeles Rams offense is just weeks away from getting Cooper Kupp back. Higbee is approaching boom or bust territory. The tight end landscape is already thin as it is, but maybe you can flip him for another struggling player with higher upside. He’s played in over 90% of the snaps in back-to-back weeks, so use that to your advantage when negotiating.
Bonus Sell – All of the Kansas City Wide Receivers
In week 1, Marquez Valdes-Scantling led the team in receiving yards (48) while rookie Rashee Rice led all wide receivers with three receptions. In week 2, Skyy Moore led in receiving yards (70) and Kadarius Toney was atop the reception leaderboard with five. Outside of Travis Kelce, all the pass catchers will be a constant headache and just not worth the gamble. It’s like playing Russian roulette on a weekly basis. Trade them for anything you can, someone will want Patrick Mahomes’ “leading” wide receiver. Sell high on Skyy Moore and Kadarius Toney before another down week.
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Main Photo: Morgan Tencza – USA Today Sports
